NRIs to fund education of Bihar schoolboy

Moved by the plight of a Bihar schoolboy who pulls rickshaw for a living and education, some non-resident Indians (NRIs) have come forward to help him.

Rajiv Ranjan, a Class X student of a school at Ara in Bhojpur, about 60 kms from Patna, has been working as a rickshawpuller for the last four years.

"After reading about the plight of Ranjan, I am really interested to help him," Ravi Verma, an American of Indian origin, settled in Silicon Valley in the US, said. He said he would help Ranjan complete his education.

Jay Verma, an NRI in Finland, approached bihartimes.com, a popular news portal of the state, and sought details of Ranjan.

"I would like to bear Ranjan's education expenses. Will you be kind enough to let me know his postal address. I will be happy to do whatever I can to ensure that he gets proper education," Verma, who is based in Helsinki, wrote in his letter to Ajay Kumar of the news portal.

Another offer of help has come from Saudi Arabia. "I would like to help Ranjan pay the registration fees for his board examination. Please let me know the amount required," Ahmad Rasheed, a native of Bihar, said.

Not only the NRIs, but also some Biharis settled in other parts of the country have come forward to help the schoolboy.

Ranjan, who is due to appear for the Class 10 board examination early next year, is the only earning member of his family. His father, Binod Kumar, used to work as a labourer but has been bedridden for over a year.

He attends school in the morning and pulls the rickshaw in the evening. He also pays the school fees of his two younger sisters with his meagre earnings.